William Kentridge

Bernd Kammerer / AP

AGE: 54
OCCUPATION: Artist
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0

PRO: Through his work in video, theater, painting and animation, the South Africanborn Kentridge has provided a vivid history of apartheid and its legacy. His recent production of Claudio Monteverdi's opera The Return of Ulysses  which was staged using puppets  earned Kentridge some of the best reviews of his career.

CON: The staging of Ulysses is so elaborate, it can only tour a few cities at a time.